Read, enjoyed, and shared...as usual. I particularly appreciated this post's message because...because...because...when some writers (esp "that person") declare from up on literary high that you can only be a true writer IF you write EVERY DAY is...well, those people are jerks. And I bet they don't write every day!! My philosophy is more in line with your POV, i.e.: it's important to be engaged with your writing in some/any way.
Some days, I write A LOT. Some days, I write A LITTLE. Other days, I do research connected to WIPs. And some days, I read or even write snail mail letters, which is still writing related. The people who say the sort of "write every day on WIP...or else" simply lack empathy ; it assumes that the way they're approaching writing is the best way AND you should follow their examples.
"The Writing Life" is a broad statement that covers a lot of activities. If you're engaged in any level, with any aspect, to your writing life, then you are "writing every day."
The best approach is probably to unfollow those people and let them up-chuck their literary stuff far from you. Life is so short, esp for those of us reaching the last third or fourth of our lives, it's important to surround yourself with reasonable people.
Keep up the good job with this Substack publication. I've always said I think you have enough great posts for a little literary memoir. :-)
Thanks, Roy. And this is exactly it--as long as we are doing the best we can, it counts! And I try very hard not to be prescriptive in my advice because I know it turns me off when others are.
Thanks Charlotte. I completely understand your ire.
I happen to write everyday. When I inform you of this, please allow me to clarify that when I write and what I write may not be a part of some grand epic novel I’m cranking out, but just writing. For the sake of writing. Because it’s like breathing. I enjoy doing it.
I start each day writing I write in two different journals. One is a gratitude journal. The other is where I do a daily mind dump of the stuff in my head for three pages. Out of that dump has come plenty of jewels and precious treasures.
I recently finished a novel and I’m currently seeking representation. I decide to ease up on making more changes to my manuscript because I know I could to that until it becomes a totally different story. I had to learn to stop. Walk away. Step away from the keyboard. Yet I still write. Something. Anything. Now Substack is part of that.
I get so much satisfaction from jotting down all the quirky little things that could be the seed of something bigger. One never knows.
When I wrote my manuscript I wrote the majority of it on an Amtrak train commuting into NYC. That’s my writers studio. A crowded train taking me along the tracks on a bumpy ride. It took a year but I wouldn’t change that experience for anything. 🥳
Oh Helen, you make such good points here. Writing-ish every day can also take the part of journaling or whatever we want it to be. And I love that you do a gratitude journal and a brain dump--kind of reminds me of Morning Pages. Very useful.
Excited for your novel, and I love, love, love that you wrote it on the Amtrak train while commuting. I'm going to tell that to people who say they don't have time to write!
Thank you for this, Charlotte - it was a great reminder that I don’t need cajole myself to get back in the chair each day, I am nurturing something I love.
Haha love it & couldn’t agree more! I wake up super early to write before anyone’s awake (mostly my young kiddos), but I write everywhere and anywhere I can. Favorite place to come up w. ideas is in a nice hot shower.
Also, in love with the idea of attending an overseas writing workshop. I’ll have to put that one on my bucket list. It sounds heavenly!
Marisa, you and me both, my best writing time is early in the morning. The veil between sleep and waking is still active and my internal critic is still asleep. It's my favorite. And then also my writing is in my mind and I think about it and sometimes touch base throughout the day.
And yes! Please do come consider coming to an overseas workshop! We have one in France this September.
I hear this and feel it so hard. It hasn't yet changed the behavior, but it's changing the thinking about the behavior, so that's a step. You got me thinking.
Charlotte, thanks for this! 💙 I agree 100%. Not all of us write the same way, and honestly I'm often less productive when I set aside huge blocks of time to write. I find I can't actually focus for that long--I can do an hour and then have to take a little break and then work some more.
But in the last couple of years I've done more of what you described--I try to tap into my book for SOME period of time--even if it's just 10-15 minutes of brainstorming a scene, jotting down some ideas, or rethinking a plot point. I think it does keep me motivated, and keeps up the momentum, and I feel like I've done *something* with the book, even if it's just a few minutes. As a result, I've written more books and the writing has become easier. In those years where I waited to have big blocks of time, it took longer to finish the books and more time passed between books. I felt like I was binge writing, and it was both exhausting AND took longer to get back into the story after a period of no writing. All of that is just to say that everybody's writing style is different, and we have to find the way that serves us best. It makes me sad to see people get discouraged because they think there's just that one way, or that the way that works best for them is somehow not enough, or not "what real writers do." I love that you shared this. 💙
I'm totally with you--when I have long blocks of time it's almost too much and I end up not getting as much done. And of course I still sometimes think that would be easier than grabbing a few minutes here or there!
It's so cool that you've been able to write more with more ease. And you know I love your books!
As always, thank you for this! Last week I let go of my characters and returned to find them lost. 🤣 So, one sentence really is better than nothing. Also, there’s a noise cancelling sound for studying on Spotify that blocked the sound of my neighbor’s thumping music! I highly recommend.
Hey Charlotte, I agree completely with you. I write every day despite being a mom, a full-time teacher and a grad. student. I juggle everything almost like spinning plates in the air but it works for me. I still manage to write every day. It's not pretty or great, but it happens. Let's connect on substack: @authorblogger
Elizabeth, you have my utmost admiration. You are doing so much, and still getting writing in. "Not pretty or great." That's the key! You can't edit a blank page. Heading over to your Substack to connect.
Howdy Charlotte:
Read, enjoyed, and shared...as usual. I particularly appreciated this post's message because...because...because...when some writers (esp "that person") declare from up on literary high that you can only be a true writer IF you write EVERY DAY is...well, those people are jerks. And I bet they don't write every day!! My philosophy is more in line with your POV, i.e.: it's important to be engaged with your writing in some/any way.
Some days, I write A LOT. Some days, I write A LITTLE. Other days, I do research connected to WIPs. And some days, I read or even write snail mail letters, which is still writing related. The people who say the sort of "write every day on WIP...or else" simply lack empathy ; it assumes that the way they're approaching writing is the best way AND you should follow their examples.
"The Writing Life" is a broad statement that covers a lot of activities. If you're engaged in any level, with any aspect, to your writing life, then you are "writing every day."
The best approach is probably to unfollow those people and let them up-chuck their literary stuff far from you. Life is so short, esp for those of us reaching the last third or fourth of our lives, it's important to surround yourself with reasonable people.
Keep up the good job with this Substack publication. I've always said I think you have enough great posts for a little literary memoir. :-)
Thanks, Roy. And this is exactly it--as long as we are doing the best we can, it counts! And I try very hard not to be prescriptive in my advice because I know it turns me off when others are.
Thanks Charlotte. I completely understand your ire.
I happen to write everyday. When I inform you of this, please allow me to clarify that when I write and what I write may not be a part of some grand epic novel I’m cranking out, but just writing. For the sake of writing. Because it’s like breathing. I enjoy doing it.
I start each day writing I write in two different journals. One is a gratitude journal. The other is where I do a daily mind dump of the stuff in my head for three pages. Out of that dump has come plenty of jewels and precious treasures.
I recently finished a novel and I’m currently seeking representation. I decide to ease up on making more changes to my manuscript because I know I could to that until it becomes a totally different story. I had to learn to stop. Walk away. Step away from the keyboard. Yet I still write. Something. Anything. Now Substack is part of that.
I get so much satisfaction from jotting down all the quirky little things that could be the seed of something bigger. One never knows.
When I wrote my manuscript I wrote the majority of it on an Amtrak train commuting into NYC. That’s my writers studio. A crowded train taking me along the tracks on a bumpy ride. It took a year but I wouldn’t change that experience for anything. 🥳
Oh Helen, you make such good points here. Writing-ish every day can also take the part of journaling or whatever we want it to be. And I love that you do a gratitude journal and a brain dump--kind of reminds me of Morning Pages. Very useful.
Excited for your novel, and I love, love, love that you wrote it on the Amtrak train while commuting. I'm going to tell that to people who say they don't have time to write!
Morning pages is where I got the idea. I just altered it a little.
Always good to do things the way they work best for you.
Thank you for this affirmation, Charlotte. This means so much.
I'm so glad it landed for you, my friend.
Thank you for this, Charlotte - it was a great reminder that I don’t need cajole myself to get back in the chair each day, I am nurturing something I love.
Lesa, nurturing something you love is such a great way to look at it!
Happy to see you name this morning--hope you are doing well.
Haha love it & couldn’t agree more! I wake up super early to write before anyone’s awake (mostly my young kiddos), but I write everywhere and anywhere I can. Favorite place to come up w. ideas is in a nice hot shower.
Also, in love with the idea of attending an overseas writing workshop. I’ll have to put that one on my bucket list. It sounds heavenly!
Marisa, you and me both, my best writing time is early in the morning. The veil between sleep and waking is still active and my internal critic is still asleep. It's my favorite. And then also my writing is in my mind and I think about it and sometimes touch base throughout the day.
And yes! Please do come consider coming to an overseas workshop! We have one in France this September.
I hear this and feel it so hard. It hasn't yet changed the behavior, but it's changing the thinking about the behavior, so that's a step. You got me thinking.
Changing the thinking is a huge step, Criss! And every step counts.
Charlotte, thanks for this! 💙 I agree 100%. Not all of us write the same way, and honestly I'm often less productive when I set aside huge blocks of time to write. I find I can't actually focus for that long--I can do an hour and then have to take a little break and then work some more.
But in the last couple of years I've done more of what you described--I try to tap into my book for SOME period of time--even if it's just 10-15 minutes of brainstorming a scene, jotting down some ideas, or rethinking a plot point. I think it does keep me motivated, and keeps up the momentum, and I feel like I've done *something* with the book, even if it's just a few minutes. As a result, I've written more books and the writing has become easier. In those years where I waited to have big blocks of time, it took longer to finish the books and more time passed between books. I felt like I was binge writing, and it was both exhausting AND took longer to get back into the story after a period of no writing. All of that is just to say that everybody's writing style is different, and we have to find the way that serves us best. It makes me sad to see people get discouraged because they think there's just that one way, or that the way that works best for them is somehow not enough, or not "what real writers do." I love that you shared this. 💙
I'm totally with you--when I have long blocks of time it's almost too much and I end up not getting as much done. And of course I still sometimes think that would be easier than grabbing a few minutes here or there!
It's so cool that you've been able to write more with more ease. And you know I love your books!
Thank you for the lovely and thoughtful comment.
As always, thank you for this! Last week I let go of my characters and returned to find them lost. 🤣 So, one sentence really is better than nothing. Also, there’s a noise cancelling sound for studying on Spotify that blocked the sound of my neighbor’s thumping music! I highly recommend.
Oh Gini, you crack me up! I trust those characters will wander back soon. And thank you for the Spotify tip! I'll check it out.
Hey Charlotte, I agree completely with you. I write every day despite being a mom, a full-time teacher and a grad. student. I juggle everything almost like spinning plates in the air but it works for me. I still manage to write every day. It's not pretty or great, but it happens. Let's connect on substack: @authorblogger
Elizabeth, you have my utmost admiration. You are doing so much, and still getting writing in. "Not pretty or great." That's the key! You can't edit a blank page. Heading over to your Substack to connect.
Could not agree more!
Thanks, Camille!
I agree—with everything you said! 🚫writer blocking, 🚫”writer’s block”, 🚫playing with blocks instead of writing…just write!✍️💗
Writer blocking, ha! Love it, Linda.